Monthly Archives: February 2023

A Sidewalk Stroll in Memphis, Tennessee

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Old photo, white border. Circa 1930s – 1940s.

Price:  $10.00          Size:  2 and 13/16 x 3 and 3/4″

An older couple strolling in a shopping district of Memphis, Tennessee. He in suit, tie, hat and horn-rimmed glasses, hands behind back and she in a hat, dark dress with flowered jacket belted at the waist and carrying a pair of white gloves. It’s a cute look they have, he’s turned towards her slightly, she’s smiling up at him. Behind them is a prominent sign showing “Economy Corner, Pantaze.” Pantaze was a drug store chain.

The photo’s reverse shows the photographer’s surname was Bolton and his business venture for these types of snapshots was called The “CANDID.” According to city directories and census records Bolton was Richard Bolton, and we’re seeing him on the 1910 Federal Census in Greenwood, Mississippi, occupation photographer. By 1912 he’s in Memphis, Tennessee working as a “photo finisher” for Engineers & Architects Supply Co. And by at least 1919, he’s again under the occupation of photographer. He stays with this vocation until his death in 1955.

Richard Bolton was born July 9, 1888 in Lula, Mississippi, son of West D. Bolton and Callie Louise (Perkins) Bolton. By the 1920 census he’s married to Bertha, who was born Nebraska, about 1893. The 1940 shows he is now with wife, Alma, born Tennessee, about 1907. He died in Memphis, December 23, 1955. The death certificate states he was divorced.

Below, worth reading –  love the humor…..♥  The case of the photographer’s disappearing Ford, from The Commercial Appeal, May 12, 1923:

Back to the photo……

What street was our strolling couple on? Unknown, at the moment. Since there were multiple Pantaze Drug Stores (the 1938 city directory, for instance, lists three different stores:  Store No. 1 was located at 38 S. Main; No. 2 was at 209 Beale Ave.; and No. 3 at 531 S. Main) we looked for any added reference to Economy Corner. That was, surprisingly, not found, so maybe someone with knowledge of the old Memphis days can let us know.

I’m aware there’s a glitch above with the grayed out wording and am trying to fix it – but it’s so appropriate though, kind of like the photographer’s car issue. 😉

Sources:  Year: 1910; Census Place: Greenwood South Ward, Leflore, Mississippi; Roll: T624_749; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 0071; FHL microfilm: 1374762.(Ancestry.com).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Memphis City Directory, 1912. Page 210. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Memphis City Directory, 1919. Page 186. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1920; Census Place: Memphis Ward 4, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1763; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 82. (Ancestry.com).

“Phantom Car Vanishes.”  The Commercial Appeal, (Memphis, TN) May 12, 1923. Saturday, p. 7. (Newspapers.com).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Memphis City Directory, 1938. Page 1602. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1940; Census Place: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: m-t0627-03963; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 98-103. (Ancestry.com).

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958. (Ancestry.com).

Glam Photo By W. Albert Martin, Pasadena, California

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Old photo, circa 1936 – 1950. Photographer:  W. Albert Martin, Pasadena, California.

Price:  $15.00                  Size:  3 and 7/16 x 3 and 7/16″

A bit mildew-y as you can see, so this one’s more for digital use. The front markings could be rather easily taken care of in Photoshop, if anyone’s interested. Still, it’s a rather stunning photo printed on textured paper of a radiant young woman in a glam shot, showing bare shoulders, she’s smiling and looking up to her right.

W. Albert Martin (1891 – 1959) was a well-known photographer in Pasadena. His work appeared in The Pasadena Post quite often – shots of society persons, brides, young women appearing in plays, etc. He did the photography for the Cal Tech 1936 yearbook, (possibly other years but we didn’t search extensively) and per Worthpoint, photographed Albert Einstein and his wife, Elsa on five different occasions, and was also known for his photos of Native American and Western scenes. According to his obituary, he had later resided Scottsdale, Arizona and San Diego, California.

The Pasadena business address, 963 E. Colorado St. was found in city directories from 1936 – 1946.

From The Pasadena Post, September 13, 1947:

The 1940 Federal Census has him in Pasadena, photographer with own studio, with wife, Mabel S. Martin. The WWII Draft Registration recorded William Albert Martin, born Beatrice, Nebraska, July 24, 1892. Occupation photographer. Home address 1419 Rutan Way, Pasadena. Business address 696 E. Colorado. By the 1950, he is still in Pasadena, running own portrait studio and now married to Katherine D. Martin.

Obituary from the Independent Star-News, January 18, 1959:

Sources:  “W. Albert Martin Took Prize Photo.” The Pasadena Post, September 13, 1947. Monday, p. 5. (Newspapers.com).

“Native American Couple C1940s W Albert Martin Arizona.” https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/native-american-couple-c1940s-albert-114041173. (Accessed February 23, 2023).

Year: 1940; Census Place: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00240; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 19-435. (Ancestry.com).

The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147. (Ancestry.com).

United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 3593; Sheet Number: 1; Enumeration District: 19-1719. (Ancestry.com).

http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Cal_Tech_Big_T_Yearbook/1936/Page_6.html – caltech yearbook 1936

Independent Star-News, January 18, 1959 (Pasadena, California). Sunday, p. 38. (Newspapers.com).

Ethel (Lewis) Kelly

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Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, unused. CYKO stamp box. Circa 1915 – 1925.

Price:  $15.00

There are two names on the back of this card:  Ethel Lewis Kelly and Bertha Tufford. Presumably they are cousins, or Bertha could be a cousin-in-law, though records were not found as proof, either way.

A description…..

Ethel, with a thoughtful, agreeable expression, wearing wire-rimmed eyeglasses, head tilted slightly, dark hair parted on the side and pulled back. Rings on both hands, one a possible wedding ring, and an interesting dress style:  light material with small diamonds, dark satiny fabric for the upside of the collar, the same fabric around the waist and for the diagonal accent under the bodice buttons. Lace running up one side from buttons to collar, and then lace around the cuffs, continuing up to the elbows. The carved wooden chair is also gorgeous – one of the nicest we’ve seen. The “ears” of the chair resemble something between a fish and a seahorse.

Ethel Lewis, born August 1890 in Oregon, is the daughter of Timothy Ambrose Lewis and Louise Serrell Crawford. Ethel married Thomas Leo Kelly in about 1923. He was born in Maine 1887. He was first married to Frances Jane Chisholm.

Researching this postcard threw me for a loop for awhile, because there’s a town called Bridge in Oregon. But, there’s another town called McKenzie Bridge, which is an unincorporated community in Lane County, OR, and shows up on Thomas Kelly’s death certificate. So, there’s no “Cousin McKenzie” at all. Thank goodness, as it wasn’t making too much sense that way.

As to the “addressee,” there’s a Bertha Mae Tufford, born January 19, 1892 in Portland, Oregon, who marries Frederick Sylvester Huit on March 10, 1917. If she’s the correct person then we’re led to believe that this postcard photo was taken before this marriage date, when Bertha was still single, still a Tufford, and that would mean that Ethel wasn’t married yet, and the ring on her left hand was not a wedding ring. Or, it could just be that the person who wrote in pencil on the reverse wasn’t aware of Bertha’s marriage or didn’t know the name. But as previously stated, no records were found to verify a “cousinship.” 😉

Sources:  Year: 1900; Census Place: Cottage Grove, Lane, Oregon; Roll: 1349; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0120; FHL microfilm: 1241348. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1920; Census Place: Elmira, Lane, Oregon; Roll: T625_1496; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 229. (Ancestry.com).

The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147. (Ancestry.com).

Oregon State Archives; Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Death Records, 1864-1967. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry Family Trees for Thomas Leo Kelly and Frances Jane Chisolm. (Ancestry.com). Accessed February 18, 2023.

McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKenzie_Bridge,_Oregon (accessed February 18, 2023).

Young Woman Wearing Striped Sash

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Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, wide border. Unused. Circa 1910 – 1920s.

Price:  $6.00

A dark-haired young woman with bangs and hair pulled up in a top bun, wears a loose-fitting white blouse and…..are those trousers? Possibly, but more likely the question’s come up just due to the way the skirt is hanging. Not that trousers would have been unheard of, especially with and after WWI (the vacated jobs being filled by women, the practicality of pants, etc.) But to continue – around her hips is a wide, striped cloth accessory, pinned in place, giving the outfit a nice bohemian look. (The “belt” in the limelight reminds me of the Ceinture fléchée, the cloth, arrow sash that the French-Canadian voyageurs used, though there is no arrow design in this one.) And she’s posed at the foot of a flight of wooden stairs – the setting is rustic, working-class, we see an opening to maybe a store or warehouse on the ground level behind her. Maybe the building housed a flat above a shop or was a two-story business. Also of note, the young lady’s jewelry – earrings, a bracelet of (presumably) gold or gold-tone, and two rings, one a possible wedding ring.

Dating the card:  The reverse of this Real Photo Postcard – no stamp box, with its simple lettering style and “Correspondence Here,” “Name and Address Here” and its very short Divided Back line doesn’t, as far as I’ve seen, and according to Playle’s, have any verified to-and-from dates, (that’d be a time-consuming project, for sure) so we’re just estimating by general experience with clothing style and RPPCs.

Sources:  Ceinture fléchée. n.d. See link for URL. Accessed February 16, 2023.

Real Photo Postcard Stamp Backs:  Unknown Manufacturers. Playle.com. (Accessed February 16, 2023).

Jorgen aka Jergen Vind

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Divided Back, Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box. Circa 1922.

Price:  $15.00           Size:  5 and 1/8 x 3 and 1/8″

This one was slightly cropped it seems, but it’s almost full size for an RPPC. And a very cute portrait of one Jorgen Vind, age about five. Let’s see how many Jorgen Vinds there might be in records:

After a little searching, we can confidently say this is Jorgen aka Jergen Paulson Vind, born September 19, 1917 in Crockett, Contra Costa County, California. Crockett is located about 28 miles northeast of San Francisco. The 1920 Federal Census for Contra Costa shows parents, Jerry Vind, born about 1868 in North Schleswig, Germany, (now part of Denmark) native language Danish, and Elizabeth, born about 1885 in Ireland, and children, nine-year-old Anna and two-year-old Jorgen. From the CA birth records we learn that Elizabeth’s maiden name was Kerr.

Jergen P. Vind married Pat A. Peters, November 6, 1954 in San Francisco, California.

Jergen died in Reno, Nevada, January 21, 1998.

Sources:  State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.(Ancestry.com).

Year: 1920; Census Place: Township 12, Contra Costa, California; Roll: T625_95; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 26. (Ancestry.com).

Schleswig-Holstein. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleswig-Holstein (accessed February 15, 2023).

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1872. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1949-1959.

Nevada State Health Division, Office of Vital Statistics. State Death Index. Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Carson City, Nevada. (Ancestry.com).

Est ce d’un regard, d’un sourire…..

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Divided Back, unused French postcard, circa 1920s. Publisher:  A. Noyer. Series 3268.

Price:  $6.00

Enlarge the image (twice) and you’ll see that there are a lot of creases on the front of this card, so it’s not in good shape but still, the subtle color variations and the softness, not to mention the romance and sender’s message make this a great one for Valentine’s Day….

“Est ce d’un regard, d’un sourire que vous avez su me séduire?”

Is it with a look, a smile, that you were able to seduce me?

Hopefully, I’ve deciphered and translated the reverse well enough for now, in hopes of having a French speaker look this over in the near future. The sender, “Louteke” is certainly a name I’ve never heard before, and doesn’t show up online. With luck, we can get clarification on that, too.

“Mon Chèr Petit Marcel,

Je suis très bien arrivée et Père était à la gare. Je ne devais pas changer à Courtois[?] J’étais content Georges à chercher la carte. Elle n’est pas très belle. Je m’ennui à mourir si loin de toi. Je ne sais pas est tu bien [?] Oui mon Chèr. Dort bien et mille gros bisous de[?] Chère Louteke qui pense beaucoup à toi mais quelle beau temps n’est pas Chèr à mardi soir. Je vais en promenade demain après midi. Mère est très content de son étagère et bien[?] les complements [?] et Père. Dort bien Chèri et pense beaucoup à moi, tu sais encore. 100 gros bisous de ta Chère Louteke.” 

My dear Marcel,

I arrived very well and Father was at the train station. I didn’t have to change at Courtois[?] I was happy George looked at the map. She [the town?] is not very beautiful. I’m bored to death so far from you. I don’t know if[?] you are fine. Yes, my dear? Sleep well and a thousand big kisses from dear Louteke who thinks about you a lot, but it’s not a long time Dear, till Tuesday night. I’m going for a walk tomorrow afternoon. Mother is very happy with her shelf and [sends?] regards from her and Father. Sleep well, darling and think of me a lot, you know again. 100 big kisses from your dear Louteke.

A 1910s Fashionista

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Old photo, white border. Circa 1910s.

Price:  $12.00           Size:  3 and 1/4 x 4 and 1/4″

When I come across photos like these, I wish I’d studied the history of fashion –  extensively. I’d rattle off all the particulars of this beautiful young woman’s outfit. Not having done so leaves me feeling rather inept at describing, but to have a go at it – she’s showing off a suit, perhaps handmade, the skirt hem falling above the ankles, along with a jacket with very wide lapels. Those extend up (with cutouts for shoulders) into a large collar in the back. (Or, maybe better to say an over-sized shawl collar with shoulder cutouts.) The jacket is tied at the waist, its lower portions are not meant to close, rather to fall openly below the hips. The young lady is posing with hands behind her back but you can detect lace – flowing and attached at the sleeves just below the elbows. Glancing up at the lapels again, a minor light bulb goes on:  Lace? Yes. Ahhh, (nodding head) the continuity factor. Normally we’re happy with black and white photos (so elegant) but it would have been nice to see the colors in this one. (Fashion experts will likely know the material and be able to narrow down the hues.) Note the interesting subtle creases showing on the insides of both sleeves – I’m not sure if this was by design or had occurred with wear due to the type of fabric. To complete the look, our fashionable friend wears either a headband or hat, which blossoms out for a grand effect on one side, (love it) and a choker-type necklace with round pendant. Sometimes one gets lucky in finding an example in old newspaper ads of a searched-for style, so I looked there and elsewhere via Google. Luck was not found, precisely, but of interest, a very charming illustration of some more sedate versions of tailored womens’ suits appearing in the Spring of 1915, (it was suit week at Scarborough’s) in the Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas):

Source:  Austin American-Statesman, April 4, 1915. Sunday, p. 15. (Newspapers.com).

Young Woman With Horse

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Real Photo Postcard. Unused. Circa 1907 – 1909. AZO stamp box. 

Price:  $5.00

No writing on the back, so no way to offer up a great find for any potential descendant on this one. But, sometimes you’re just drawn to a photo or postcard image, and I think this one is beauty in its simplicity:  Girl and horse, part of a barn, a couple of trees, wooden fence, rolling hills – a nice blast back to our rural American past.

Looking off to her left, the young woman in skirt and blouse, hair pulled back in a bow, holding the rope halter of her horse, the animal’s expression faces the camera. (The nuances are lovely – who is looking where.) And first impressions are always interesting. To me, the girl’s skin coloring appears to be a trifle dark; she strikes me as being part Native American or having gypsy background. Of course, that’s only an impression on my part, and not meant to be taken as anything, really – only to share the thought. Do you think she wears wire-rimmed eyeglasses or is that a trick of the light? The horse (no horse expertise here on my part) looks young, and I like the square “star” appearing on his forehead. (Apparently the white markings, other than the vertical blaze, are called stars, no matter their shape.)

Per Playles, this particular AZO stamp box (on reverse) with diamonds in corners is dated from 1905 – 1909. We presume Real Photo Postcards followed the same U. S. postal regulations regarding “Divided Back,” the ruling for which started March 1, 1907. So, the date, at least, can be happily narrowed down to 1907 – 1909.

Sources:  Sanderson, David. “Naming Head Markings on a Horse.” Dallas Equestrian Center, May 13, 2015, http://www.dallasequestriancenter.com/naming-head-markings-on-a-horse/#:~:text=Star,of%20whether%20it%20resembles%20one. Accessed February 11, 2023.

Playle’s:  “Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes, A – B.: https://www.playle.com/realphoto/photoa.php. (accessed February 11, 2023).

Marie Rubens, Circa 1913

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Real Photo Postcard, unused. AZO stamp box. Circa 1912 – 1914.

Availability Status:  SOLD 

Most likely the young lady in this postcard photo is Marie Cecilia Rubens, born May 13, 1897 in Gervais, Oregon, daughter of Joseph Rubens and Matilda Vanderbeck. We’re estimating Marie was about fifteen or sixteen when this was taken. She’s shown in a  white, long-sleeved dress, the collar gathered in ruffles under the chin, hemline just below the knee, hair pulled back in a dark bow. She stands behind a wooden folding chair, in front of a photographer’s backdrop of wooded hills.

Marie’s given this postcard to:   “Gertie Bowley, Gervais, Oregon.”

Gertrude Bowley, from the 1910 Federal Census in Gervais, was born about 1895 in Oregon, daughter of William and Barbara Bowley. Also on this census are Gertie’s younger siblings, Joseph, Mary, William and Florence. Barbara Bowley’s maiden name was Ferschweiler per Gertie’s marriage record (to Luther Garrett).

Marie Rubens married Lawrence Ferschweiler, so there’s a family connection between the subject of this card and its recipient, though we won’t spend time pinpointing the exact relationship.

Sources:  Oregon State Archives; Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Birth Records, 1842-1902, 1917. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Gervais, Marion, Oregon; Roll: T624_1284; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0210; FHL microfilm: 1375297. (Ancestry.com).

Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013. (Ancestry.com).

Oregon State Archives; Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Birth Records, 1842-1902, 1917. (Ancestry.com).

Black Hills Wholesale Grocery Company

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Real Photo Postcard, unused. AZO Stamp Box, circa 1913 – 1918.

Price:  $20.00

Addressed to:   “Ollie M. Chester, Rapid City, SD.”

Caption:   “C. E. Gray, wholesale Merchant, Rapid City, and his officers. C. E. Gray.”

You can read  “Wholesale Grocery Co.” on the building, above the man on our left. Which gentleman is C. E. Gray is unknown. Here’s an ad from February, 1914 showing they were located at Seventh Street between Omaha and Rapid (Rapid City, South Dakota):

From city directories it appears C. E. was Claude E. Gray. He shows up in 1918 as vice-president of the business. And on the 1920 Federal Census for Rapid City, we have Claude, born 1880 in Iowa, occupation grocery man; his wife, Florence L., also born 1880 in Iowa; and their daughters, Miriam, Marjorie and Helen. Also in the household is domestic servant, Ida Printz.

We’re guessing this card, like the one in the prior post, is a rare find for anyone looking for either of the two businesses. The earliest mention we found for the Black Hills Wholesale Grocery Co. is January 1913, in the Custer Weekly Chronicle. On March 3, 1914, the company published a trademark, described as “Black Hills” and a mountain scene that, barring any objection, would have been registered thirty days later. The AZO stamp box with all four triangles pointing upward, is estimated to be from 1904 – 1918, hence our card’s estimated date 1913 – 1918.

Ollie is Olive M. Chester. Could she be one of the young women in the postcard? Maybe. Or maybe just a friend or relative of C. E. Gray. Olive is found on the 1915 State Census for South Dakota, born 1899 in Nebraska.

Sources:  Year: 1920; Census Place: Rapid City, Pennington, South Dakota; Roll: T625_1725; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 155. (Ancestry.com).

Simmons’ Spice Journal, April 1914, Volume 37, no. 4. Page 410. (Google.com/books).

Rapid City Journal. February 1, 1914. Sunday, p. 7. (Newspapers.com).

Keiter Directory Co’s Rapid City and Pennington County, South Dakota City, 1918-1919. p. 43. (Ancestry.com).

“Notice of Hearing Petition for Letters of Administration.” Custer Weekly Chronicle, January 18, 1913, Saturday, p. 6. (Newspapers.com).

South Dakota, U. S., State Census, 1915. (Ancestry.com).